New Delhi, Oct 3 (IANS) The Congress Thursday downplayed a special CBI court sentencing Lalu Prasad to five years in jail in a fodder scam case, saying conviction of one leader does not affect a party.

"One of the leaders getting convicted does not affect the party. The RJD (Rashtriya Janata Dal) has been suporting us," Congress spokesperson Sandeep Dikshit told Times Now channel.

Another Congress leader, Shakeel Ahmad said the law was taking its own course.

"The law is taking its own course. He has the right to appeal against the order in a higher court," Ahmad told IANS.

The order comes a day after the cabinet withdrew an ordinance to save lawmakers from disqualification if convicted for two or more years, after Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi vetoed it.

As a result, Lalu Prasad stands to lose his Lok Sabha seat, Saran in Bihar.

"The presiding officer of the house will decide on that," said Ahmad.